John Gurney wins national OSCA

A host of current and former England cricketers including England captain Eoin Morgan, recently recognised the e� orts of grassroots volunteers at the NatWest Outstanding Service to Cricket Awards (OSCAs). The event was staged at Lord’s on 12 October and hosted by BBC Radio Test Match Special commentator Jonathan Agnew. It brought together 400 people from across the recreational game to celebrate achievements in volunteering roles in eight di� erent categories. Many congratulations to Bedfordshire’s John Gurney who won the national OSCA in the category of Lifetime Achiever. John’s well-deserved award recognised his 60 years of service to the game; as player, groundsman, o� cial and organiser of cricket competitions to raise money for charity. John has given many hours of his time for the benefi t of others and has been a magnifi cent ambassador to cricket. Bedfordshire county OSCA winner Jill Ainscough was also shortlisted for a national award in the category of NatWest CricketForce. Other county winners were Vicky Bodo (Heartbeat of the Club); Graeme Presswell (Get the Game On); Malcolm Wynn (Leagues); Steve Waterhouse (O� ciating) and Robert Thorne (Young Volunteer).

Get involved in cricket coaching

Whether it is about putting something back into the game you love, helping out at your local club, or simply providing more support to your child, there is a reason for everyone to get involved in cricket coaching. Bedfordshire Cricket o� ers a range of coaching courses including the Coach Support Worker course, the ECB Certifi cate in Coaching Children’s Cricket (Level 2) and a range of Coach Education Workshops. Bedfordshire Cricket is pleased to announce that 7 candidates recently completed the Coach Support Worker course and they will now be equipped with the skills to assist qualifi ed coaches in the delivery of high-quality coaching sessions within a club environment, including running warm up and cool down sessions. There are still places available on the Coach Support Worker course in January. There are 10 candidates currently attending our ECB Certifi cate in Coaching Children’s Cricket (Level 2) course and we have another course starting in January (which is full). Our Coach Education Workshops are open to all as follows:

Wicket Keeping Monday 16 November 8-9.30pm

Warm Ups, The Fundamentals and Fitness for Cricket Monday 23 November 7.45-9.45pm and Tuesday 8 March 7.30-9.30pm

Captaincy and Tactics Wednesday 13 January 8-9.30pm

Running Net Sessions Wednesday 10 February 8-9.30pm

Swing and Seam Saturday 27 February 10am-2.45pm

Coaching the Unconventional ShotsWednesday 23 March 8-9.30pm

The Workshops all take place at Bedford College Sports Hall, apart from Warm Ups, The Fundamentals and Fitness for Cricket on Tuesday 8 March, which takes place at Shuttleworth College Sports Hall. For further details go to: www.bedscricket.co.uk and click on Coaching, then Coach Education.

Join the ECB Coaches AssociationAre you a qualifi ed Cricket Coach? Then you can become a member of the ECB Coaches Association (ECB CA), which gives you automatic membership of your local association – the Bedfordshire Association of Cricket Coaches (BAOCC). Under the Chairmanship of Andy Boocock, the BAOCC o� ers its members a dedicated service to support you through your coaching life. The cost of becoming a member is only £30 by Direct Debit or £37 by cheque per annum. The minimum requirements for a coach to join is a valid coaching qualifi cation and an up-to-date DBS. It’s your Association! So why not join the family of cricket coaches today. For more information about the benefi ts of joining the ECB CA and details of how to join go to: http://www.ecb.co.uk/ development/ecb-coaches-association.

Bedfordshire Cricket Ltd Annual General MeetingThe AGM will take place on Wednesday 9 December 2015 at Flitwick Cricket Club starting at 8pm. All a� liated League and Club Chairs and Secretaries will be sent the relevant information.

Bedfordshire Cricketdriving and inspiring cricket

Ltd

NOVEMBER 2015

Regional Emerging Player ProgrammeSome of Bedfordshire’s most promising young players will start their preparations for 2016 in November with the Regional Emerging Player Programme (EPP). This year’s intake includes Fayaz Homyoon from Luton Town and Indians, and Danyaal Malik and Alex Rennie both from Eversholt. The programme, overseen by Essex County Cricket Club, sees players from Cambridgeshire, Huntingdonshire, Su� olk and Bedfordshire work together at weekly sessions at Fenners Cricket Ground, as well as some sessions at Chelmsford with the Essex Emerging Players and coaches. Rahul Sheemar, a former Bedfordshire Emerging Player, began his academy programme with Essex County Cricket Club this autumn. Good luck to the boys!

Girls Cricket in Bedfordshire

Bedfordshire Cricket is now running two Girls County Development Squads at Under 13 and Under 15. They will be training weekly from November through to March. In the 2016 season both age groups will play in the ECB national competitions against other counties as well as aiming to play in the Northamptonshire Under 15 Girls League and the Herts Junior League (Under 13s). For further information about Girls Cricket in Bedfordshire please email dominic.chatfi eld@bedscricket.co.uk.

National Cricket Playing Survey UpdateCricket has heard from almost 77,000 players over the last three years on what they think of the game. As a result, a Matchday Blueprint has emerged that suggests at weekends players prefer starting matches no later than 1pm with 40 overs per innings in a win/lose format, and no more than 45 minutes travelling time. Leagues in Bedfordshire have and are responding to this insight with rule and/or format changes to ensure the game attracts and retains players for it to grow and develop in the county. In general, players are satisfi ed with cricket across Bedfordshire but there are opportunities to further improve. The aim is to ‘achieve more cricket played in teams in 2016’.

Junior Cricket Master Class success

Bedfordshire Cricket recently ran a three-day Cricket Master Class where children practised their batting, bowling and fi elding skills as well as taking part in competitive matches. The event was a great success with lots of fun had by all!

Train to be a cricket o� cialBecoming a cricket o� cial can be a rewarding pastime for older cricketers and an excellent way to keep in touch with the game long after playing careers are over. For younger participants it is an opportunity to be at the centre of events with “The Best Seat in the House”. The National Cricket Playing Survey shows a higher satisfaction rate for players when games are o� ciated by qualifi ed cricket o� cials. The Bedfordshire Association of Cricket O� cials is pleased to announce that 5 candidates recently passed a Level 1 Umpire qualifi cation held in Luton. Another course will start on 20 January at Bedford College (eight Wednesday evenings). In addition, a Level 1 Scorers course will start on 4 January at Flitwick Cricket Club (eight Monday evenings). For more details contact Paul Barnes, County Education O� cer, at paul.barnes780@ntlworld.com.

Bedford and District Cerebral Palsy Society

Bedfordshire Cricket supported Bedford and District Cerebral Palsy Society’s play scheme during the summer school holidays, running a cricket session for a group of youngsters. The budding young players enjoyed some adapted cricket games and drills showing some good skills and great enthusiasm for the sport. A representative from the Society said: “Thank you so much for delivering such a great session at our Summer Playscheme 2015 Sports Week. The young people had an amazing time and we hope to see you again next year!”

Enter the 2016 Davidstow Village CupIf you are a village cricket club and fancy playing in a show-piece Lord’s fi nal, here is your chance! The Cricketer runs the National Village Cup, a summer-long knock-out competition which gives amateur cricketers the unique chance to play on the hallowed turf of Lord’s - the Home of Cricket. Any entering club is just eight wins away from that dream ticket to Lord’s, a fi nal that commands UK-wide media coverage. Even the smallest village team can fi nd themselves competing at one of the world’s most iconic sport venues; no other sport o� ers this chance to the grassroots level of their game. You can enter online at www.thecricketer.com/enternvc. The deadline for entries is Friday 18 December 2015.

Club A� liation for 2016 seasonFor those clubs that have still not submitted the forms and payment to Bedfordshire Cricket for 2015/16 a� liation, the reduction on the fee is no longer available. The fees are now: Bronze Level (for Non-Clubmarked Clubs) £60, Silver Level (for clubs working towards Clubmark) £110, Gold Level (for Clubmarked Clubs) £150 and Associate Level (for Non-Bedfordshire Clubs playing in Bedfordshire) £50. In order for your club to continue to enjoy the benefi ts of a� liation including a free Play-Cricket website, please ensure that the required forms and the correct fee are returned as soon as possible. For details go to www.bedscricket.co.uk and click on Clubs and A� liation.

Safe Hands Workshops for Club Welfare O� cersBedfordshire Cricket will run a Safe Hands Workshop for Refreshing Club Welfare O� cers in advance of the 2016 season on Wednesday 16 March 2016 at Bedford College 6pm to 9pm. Bedfordshire welcomed 10 new Club Welfare O� cers at a Full Safe Hands Workshop on 9 November. In addition to the Safe Hands Workshop, the Club Welfare O� cer must complete a Safeguarding & Protecting Children Certifi cate and a cricket-specifi c DBS check. All training and the DBS have a three-year validity period. For details email sally.church@bedscricket.co.uk.

Thinking of changing your kit supplier?If your club is considering changing kit supplier, then you may be interested in fi nding out more about Serious Cricket, Bedfordshire Cricket’s preferred supplier. Benefi ts to your club include: placing orders online via a dedicated Club Shop; high-quality cricket-specifi c match, training and leisure ranges; no minimum orders or sales requirement; fast turnaround times (3-5 days); generate some extra club funds. Go to https://seriouscricket.co.uk/teamwear/builder/register/ for the direct link into the store builder. For further details call 01256 398633 or email sales@seriouscricket.co.uk. If you would rather someone call you to discuss further, please email sally.church@bedscricket.co.uk.

Sally Church, EditorTelephone: 01767 626223 • Email: sally.church@bedscricket.co.uk • The Mansion House, Old Warden Park, Bedfordshire SG18 9DX

Martin Darlow, Chief ExecutiveEmail: martin.darlow@bedscricket.co.uk • Mobile: 07760 171467

Follow Bedfordshire Cricket @BedsCricket /bedscricket www.bedscricket.co.uk

NatWest CricketForce 2016Following a record breaking year in 2015, NatWest CricketForce 2016 aims to be even bigger and better! In 2016, NWCF will focus on supporting clubs to engage those members who don’t usually get involved, and help clubs reach out to their local communities. For details and to register go to: http://www.ecb.co.uk/development/facilities-funding/self-build-and-self-help/natwest-cricketforce.